The family of Mary Habila, a 26-year-old physiotherapist whose death at the Ebonyi residence of works minister David Umahi has drawn national scrutiny, says she will be buried on Friday as police pursue their investigation into how she died.
Habila, known as Mara, died on June 27 at Umahi's official home in Uburu, Ebonyi State. Her death remains under police examination, with officers saying an autopsy will establish the precise cause.
According to a funeral notice from her family, Habila was born on September 18, 2000. Her burial service begins at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 17, at the Deeper Life Bible Church in Nok, Kaduna State's Jaba Local Government Area, where relatives, friends and well-wishers will attend.
The case has gripped the nation since reports emerged that her body was discovered at the minister's residence under disputed circumstances. Sahara Reporters claimed she was found unclothed when removed from the minister's quarters, sparking calls for a transparent, independent inquiry.
Umahi confirmed Habila died at his residence but rejected allegations of misconduct. He told reporters she was a physiotherapist deployed from David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences to the works ministry and that he personally demanded a thorough autopsy to establish what killed her.
"The investigation should be allowed to run its full course," the minister said. He also warned of legal action against those he accused of spreading false claims about the incident.
Police have emphasised that the autopsy remains central to their inquiry. According to Sahara Reporters, investigators are working to piece together a detailed sequence of events preceding Habila's death.
A police source told the publication: "Investigators are seeking to establish the actual timeline, including who was present at the residence, what actions were taken after Habila was discovered, and when emergency medical assistance was requested."
Officers are also examining claims that Umahi departed his country home shortly after the incident while his aides arranged for an ambulance. Those allegations remain unverified, and police have made no public statement about them.
Investigators continue gathering witness accounts and forensic material as they work to determine the circumstances of Habila's death. As her family prepares for her funeral, focus remains on what the police investigation and autopsy will reveal about how the young physiotherapist died.
